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Mar 14
Force India has lashed out at F1′s owner CVC, accusing the private equity firm of not being interested in developing the sport.
The financial news agency Bloomberg quoted deputy team boss Bob Fernley as saying new deals that give more money and power to the bigger teams are a “disaster”. “CVC is not interested in developing the sport, it’s interested in making as much money as possible and then selling it,” he said.
Mar 04
Luiz Razia insists he is not losing any sleep, despite coming tantalisingly close to realising his dream of racing in formula one this year.
In fact, he was even the subject of a Marussia media announcement and began testing his 2013 car recently in Spain, only to be let down by a crucial sponsor. “I will sleep tonight, knowing that the failure was circumstantial,” the 23-year-old Brazilian told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.
Feb 15
Boss and co-owner Vijay Mallya’s financial problems do not affect Force India, deputy team principal Bob Fernley insists.
This week, it emerged that lenders to Mallya’s failing airline Kingfisher are set to sell the billionaire’s collateral assets as they recall the loans. And the very latest reports are that Force India’s title sponsor Subrata Roy, of the Indian giant Sahara, has had 100 of his and the conglomerate’s bank accounts frozen by the Securities and Exchange Board of India over failing to repay investors.
Feb 09
Narain Karthikeyan has emerged as a surprise contender to fill the final spot on the 2013 grid.
Although the Indian driver and team boss Vijay Mallya have never been the best of friends, the Deccan Chronicle newspaper said Karthikeyan’s sponsor Tata has opened the doors to the Silverstone based team.
Jan 21
Force India has confirmed reports it will not be making a driver announcement prior to the launch of the 2013 car early next month.
It has been reported Adrian Sutil and Jules Bianchi are the frontrunners to join Paul di Resta at the Silverstone based team this season. But amid claims of a financial crisis – which have been strongly denied by the Vijay Mallya-led team – Force India confirmed reports the seat alongside di Resta will be left open for now.
Jan 19
Force India has hit back at claims co-owner Vijay Mallya’s reported financial problems could sink the Silverstone based team.
Citing sources, the Italiaracing magazine had said former Indian billionaire Mallya’s “severe economic difficulties” meant Bernie Ecclestone has “activated a plan to save the team”. The report mentioned the possibility of a return to F1 for Colin Kolles, or even Flavio Briatore.
Jan 02
Force India is in negotiations to revert to Ferrari engine power, according to Italy’s La Stampa newspaper.
The talks between the Silverstone based team and Ferrari are “under way”, the correspondent Cristiano Chiavegato claims. Force India is currently powered by Mercedes’ V8 engine, but Vijay Mallya’s team began its formula one career with customer power supplied by fabled Ferrari.
Dec 10
Force India is set to announce the identity of Paul di Resta’s 2013 teammate.
The Indian news service IANS said that although the official announcement has been delayed, the Vijay Mallya-led team is finally almost ready now to make the call. “The announcement should take place next week,” a ‘top source’ at the Silverstone based team was quoted saying late last week.
Nov 24
Adrian Sutil is on his way back to formula one and Force India, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
However, the Silverstone based team’s sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer denied the deal is done: “We have not signed a contract with any driver,” he insisted. Team owner and boss Vijay Mallya, however, has mentioned German Sutil’s name several times in recent weeks, as the team looks to replace the Sauber-bound Nico Hulkenberg.
Nov 22
Vijay Mallya is pumping an extra $80 million into his formula one team.
The news comes amid the well-documented financial struggles of his other business, the Indian airline Kingfisher. Mallya said this week: “We had a board meeting in India after the Abu Dhabi grand prix and the board has approved a $80 million capital investment programme for the team.
Nov 13
Force India will wait until the end of the season before announcing its driver lineup for 2013.
It is, however, an open secret that Paul di Resta is staying put, after his 2012 teammate Nico Hulkenberg penned a deal to switch to Sauber next season. The list of candidates to replace German Hulkenberg is long, ranging from Toro Rosso’s former Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, ex-team driver Adrian Sutil and reservist Jules Bianchi.
Oct 31
Adrian Sutil’s manager has played down reports the German is first in line for a return to Force India in 2013.
With Nico Hulkenberg looking likely to switch to Sauber next year, Force India supremo Vijay Mallya admitted last weekend that long-time team driver Sutil is a candidate to replace the younger German.
Oct 30
“We do not need a driver with millions; we need the fastest one”
Force India has added fuel to speculation it is considering Sebastien Buemi or Adrian Sutil to replace the Sauber-bound Nico Hulkenberg in 2013. Officially, the Silverstone based team says it has not been told that German Hulkenberg is leaving, but other insiders consider it a done deal.
Oct 29
Vijay Mallya on Monday suggested former Force India driver Adrian Sutil is a possible contender to replace Nico Hulkenberg in 2013.
But Mallya, the Silverstone based team’s co-owner and boss, said he is not certain German Hulkenberg is switching to Sauber. “I hear from the media that Nico has signed with Sauber,” he is quoted by the Indian Express. “He hasn’t sat down with me and told me that,” added Mallya.
Oct 28
Vijay Mallya was not in a good mood when he was swamped by Indian media at his home grand prix.
The Indian billionaire had been branded an “absconder” by some of his countrymen as he holed up in London amid his ailing airline Kingfisher’s crisis. But he arrived at the Buddh circuit near New Delhi on Saturday, and immediately had to face a barrage of questions including whether his private Airbus had been “seized” by unpaid airline authorities.
Oct 27
Force India has confirmed Narain Karthikeyan’s suspicion that the door to the Silverstone based team is closed.
Currently hoping to keep his place at the back of the grid with HRT, Karthikeyan is F1′s only Indian driver, but so far he has never been seriously linked with countryman Vijay Mallya’s nationally-branded team. Lewis Hamilton said this week he has his fingers crossed for Karthikeyan, as a move to Force India would be “a huge stepping stone for him”.
Oct 26
Vijay Mallya, the owner and boss of the Force India team, had good and bad news on Thursday.
The good news was that embarrassing protests planned for the Indian grand prix by grounded and unpaid staff of his ailing Kingfisher airline have been called off. That’s because he struck a salary deal with the disgruntled workers.
